Post-hole-digging machine.



g s. DIXON. POST HOLE DIGGING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION'IILED MAY 4, 1912.

1,036,584. Patented An .27,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Q w/ wW S. DIXON. ros'r HOLE meams mcnmn. AYPLIOATIOI TILED IA! 4, 1912.

1,036,584. Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

SAMUEL DIXON, OI BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

POST-HOLE-DIGGING MACBIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

Application filed Kay 4, 1912. Serial No. 895,097v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL, DIXON, a citizen of the United vStates,residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State ofAlabama,-have invented a new and useful Post-Hole-Digging Machine;- andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the,

invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same. This invention relates to a new anduseful posthole digging machine.

p e principal object of the invention is to providea machine of thisnature, in which various essential, desirable, and practical features ofconstruction exist.

The various features of construction are hereinafter set forth, shown inthe drawings and claimed. a

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the improvedmachine constructed in accordance with theinvention, and showing theauger in a raised position. Fig. 2 is a sectional view through themachine, showing the auger completing the .drilling of a post hole. Fi 3is a plan view of a foot treadle device for throwing a rack inmesh witha gear. As to the accompanying drawings 1 designates the base frame, wich comprises the beam; 2 and the handle beams 3 and 4. Connectin thehandle beams 3 and 4 is a trans verse eam 5, and extendin downwardlyfrom the handle beams 3 an 4 are the legs 6. Secured to and projectingdownwardly from the beam 2 are the bearin brackets 7,

in which the axle 8 is journaled. Mounted on the axle 8, one upon eachend, are the supporting wheels 9, whereby the machine may be moved fromplace to place. Vertical standards 10 are provided having feet 11, whichare secured by bolts 'or other means 12 to the beam 2. The standards 10rise vertically from the beam 2, and their upper ends terminate inrestricted threaded ortions 13, which penetrate the connecting ar 14,and receive the nuts 15. Connecting between the bar 14 and the handlebeams are the brace .bars 16 'and .17, which are socured in position asat 18 and 19. However, the brace bar 17 terminates in an integral toothrack 20. The metal 21 which integrally connects the rack 20 to the bar17 is the bearing 39 and-the The upper end portion 0 bracket plate 52,as at 53.

. in F 2. The lower portion of the rack 20 terminates in a spring foot22, which by bearing against the handle beam 4 assists in steadying therack in engagement with the pinion, while the resilient or springportion 21 tends to throw the rack in the position shownin full lines inFig. 2. The purpose of this rack 20 will presently appear, as theinvention is further described. A vertical movable frame 23 is provided,which comprises the upper and lower bars and the intermediate .bar 24,25 and-26'andthe end rods 27. Projecting laterally of the end rods 27are the projections 28 and 29, which termmate in spherical bearings 30,which are sleeved slidably-on the standards 10, so that tically.

J ou-rnaled inbe'arings 31 of the end rods 27 of the frame 23 is a shaft32, each end of whichterminates in a crank33 having a handle 34. Movablewith the shaft '32 is a beveled pinion 35, which meshes with a similarbeveledpinion 36 upon the upper end of the'shank 37 of the auger 38. Theauger shank extends through a bearing 39 of the bar 25, so as to revolvetherein. This bearing 39 is provided with a race-way 40 in itsuppersurface, and one in its lower surface. Secured as at 42 to theauger-shank are the annular plates 43 and 44,-which are provided withrace-ways 45 and 46, to cooperate with the ball.bearing 47, betweenplates 43 and 44.

the auger shank is mounted in the bearing 49.

Revoluble with the shaft 32 is a spur pinion 50 adapted to mesh with.the teeth of the rack 20, so that the frame 23 will'lower when theshaft 32 is rotated by virtue of the cranks 34, and will also raiseormove in a reverse direction. However, the-frame 23 will graduallylower, without the intermeshin of the pinion 50 and the teeth of the moi20, because after the auger 38 has secured a holdin the ground, thethreads thereof, as the auger further enters the ground will pull theframe 23 downwardly,

-The frame 23 will best move downwardly when the pinion 50 and the rack20 intermesh. To cause the rack to intermesh with the pinion 50 pressuremay be applied upon the foot treadle 51, which is ivoted inthe enpressure is applied upon the treadle 51, the end 54 thereof engages thetail end 55 of the bar the frame 23 maybe raised and loweredven m, whichis noted a 5': in the bracket en the end 54 and the tail end 55 go inthis manner, the end portion 59 o the bar 56 moves, downwardly againstthe action of the spring 60, and came against the rack' 20, thus forcingthe plate 68.

teethfliereof in mesh with the teeth of the inion 50. The foot treadle61 is distorted terally, so as to be free of the brace n i ilggini h 1 ih ch post oes't ema ineispositioned so ground at the des'red location.Then motion is imparted to the shaft 32, which will not only rotate theanger throu the gears, 85 and 36, but will cause the time 23 to descendby the intermeshing of the pinion 50 and the rack 20. As before statedit is not absolutel necessary to use the rack 20 to cause the fam 23 todescend. However,

to cause the frame 23 to ascend, so as to remove the. auger from thehole; the rack 20,

t at the auger will enter the with the upper porh'on of the ide frameand terminating'in a resilient ot adapted to engage the base frame toassist in stead ing t e rack when in engagement with pinion, and amanually operated device adapted to throw the rack in cut with thepinion.

2.- In combination, a portable base frame having a guide frame risingtherefrom, a vertical movable skeleton frame guided upon the guide frame'andhaving a boring mechaniam, a revoluble shaft mounted in theskeleton-frame and having gear connections with the boring mechanism, aspur pinion, a tooth rack having resilient connection with the upperportion of the guide frame and terminating in a resilient footadapted toengage the base frame to assist in steadying the rack when in engagementwith the inion, a pivoted bar mounted on the base frame to be operatedso as to cam inst the'rack bar to tlrovgliizdin mesh wit the inion, aspring or o t e camming End of the pivoted bar in li raised position,and afoot treadle mounted on the base frame foi' operating the pivotedbar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL DIXON.

Witnesses? :Crras. G. Hoovnn, W. M. MoAnonr.

